The behaviour of vagrants and squatters living at Horwood’s Farm has led to concerns raised by community stakeholders.
The matter is not a new concern or one specific to Edenvale, but in recent months it appears to have escalated.
Ward 18 Clr Heather Hart said there are many different reasons why people live on the streets and become homeless.
“Some have really tragic stories to tell and many of those can and are assisted by placing them in contact with social services and NGOs.
Also read: Vagrants wreak havoc
“However, there are others who have landed on the streets mostly because some form of aberrant behaviour and have chosen to make this their way of life.”
Hart said those who want and deserve help will be assisted.
“But those who abuse alcohol or drugs, deal in drugs, ‘recycle’ what isn’t theirs to recycle and display aberrant behaviour are not welcome, and it is with that category that I am most concerned.
“I reiterate, this is not about homeless people in general, but a specific group of people squatting at Horwood’s Farm, abusing and vandalising the facility and frightening our visitors.”
Charlene Jacobson, of the Urban Markets and an organiser of the Horwood’s Farm Family Market, said in recent months the number of vagrants living in the park increased, with some even erecting structures.
She said the Urban Market team tried to work with the vagrants by employing them to maintain the park only for the offer to be turned down or to be threatened.
“We found they have no respect for the park and beautiful environment we created.”
Hart said the issue of vagrants of living in the park has existed for years, but became worse in the past three years.
Also read: Authorities seek solution to vagrant problem
“They drive away visitors and have started vandalising the work we did to beautify the park and bring visitors back again.”
Jacobson said during the July 6 market, vagrants, dressed in pyjamas, walked into the park and allegedly harassed community members by begging for money or food.
“We’ve found bottles of cough mixture, a packet of a white substance resembling Kat, quart beer bottles, needles, human faeces, remnants of open fires and chicken bones all over the park.”
Besides the behaviour, Charlene said the Urban Markets team noticed an increase in vandalism.
“We had the benches by the tea garden fixed and restored only to find the planks broken off and missing.
“The jungle gyms were fixed, but chains, nuts, bolts and wood were broken or taken.”
Charlene said at the last market, individuals, she suspects were vagrants, stole a vendor’s carpet, AstroTurf, two metal tables, a hammer and a step ladder.
“Our losses are running into the thousands.”
Hart believes the situation has escalated because of a sense of humanity.
She said so long as the vagrants kept to themselves, it was decided to leave them alone.
“Most of the community are happy to assist and live side by side, but unfortunately there are those vagrants who resort to theft or harassment and then residents turn to councillors to ‘deal with them’.”
Also read: Edenvale resident urges police to assist with vagrants
Hart thinks the reason why vagrants are drawn to Edenvale is because of soup kitchens, the prospect of finding casual employment and because they are not chased away.
In her opinion, Horwood’s Farm is a hot spot is because there are less visible sections of the park.
Hart said on July 11, EMPD held an operation to remove some of the vagrants at the park.
She said some vagrants pleaded for more time to clear up their belongings.
“On July 15, EMPD returned and removed the vagrants and their structures, but by the following day some had already returned.”
A request for comment was sent to EMPD on July 18 requesting comment by July 19 at 2pm.
At the time of going to print no comment was provided.
